Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-06-30
Religion and Anus cement.

1t is strange how little modern re-
ligious leaders seem to realize the init
mate relation which exists or should
between religion and amusement, and
how utterly they fail of availing them
selves of pleasure to advance ethical
truth. The religion of the ancents
was SO intimately interviewer with the
texture of his daily life that he was
hardly able to conceive of the existence
of either apart from the other. A fcs-
tival was IS closely connected with the
theology of the times as was a service
in the temple. and only differed in its
relations to the gods in being less SOL
cmn and less explicitly an art of wor-
ship. Dance and theatrical represen-
tation began with libat on and sacri-
flee, and if the Greeks were provided
with a multitude of de.tics which must
have been somewhat bcwildcring even
to tho most devout, they at least set
apart nothing either ofplace or circum-
stance in VIII CHI they did not see deity
actively present.
The same is undoubtedly true of the
early Christians, although the stress of
persecut on under which they embrace
the new doctrines left to them little of
that pagan joyousness which had too
often degcnerated into freedom VIII CHI
no ethical code, however broad, could
be stretched to cover. They went about
with their lives in the + hands. and
it is hardly too much to say that the eX-
ternal gloom of the youth of Christian
ity has left a trace of outward solemni-
ty which from being natural effect of
surroundings has come to be little bet
ter than superstition. To-day. after
centuries checkered with tolerance and
persecution, there exists a deep-seated
and illogical feeling that joyo usness, if
not positively uncbristian, is at least un-
spiritual. The early Christians proba-
bly, had no theory on the subject. Re-
ligon was the one vital fact of life for
them. and they had no need to consider
ethical subj l.tics of demeanor.
To emphatic dwelling upon the prone,
ness of the human heart to evil and
upon the difficulty of inducing men to
cleave to right tn ngs, developed after
some generations the evil notion that
since man unwilingly chose good what
ever was disagreeable to h m must be
his duty. Purtanism, with all its brave
heroism of godliness, was thoroughly
saturated with the idea. The stern
souls of our ancestors delighted in en-
HANGING the terrors and difficulties OF
the heavenly way, therefore enhancing
in their minds the worth and joys Of
the celestial rewards to be won at last
The latter reaction of to-day, instead
of discriminating between the essen
tials and the accidents of Puritanism
has endeavored to reject the whole to,
gether. The sensuous side of human
nature unnaturallv repressed. has riser
in revolt and demanded everything
and religion which desires to reach Of
to hold the doubters OF the presen
general on must reckon with this fact.
The Roman Catholic church has al
WAYS, to Il wide extent, taken the sen
suous side into account. 1t has haC
the amuscments OF the people unde
its control, or at least it has taken cog
nizance of them positively instead O
negatively. 1t has carefully guarde'
against the growth of that idea whereof
lies one of the greatest dangers whicl
menaces the Protestant church to-day
the assumpt on that religion was on
thing and the conduct Of daily life an
other. The church which has a shar
in the amusements of its people is NEE,
ing them upon the most persuasiv
/ footing. Boston Courier.